Illness Keeps Fryling From Finishing Swim

CAPISTRANO BEACH — If there’s such a thing as bad karma, Duffie Fryling appears to be swimming in it when it comes to the Catalina Channel.

Fryling, 53, who made his second attempt to complete the 20-mile swim from Catalina to Palos Verdes this past weekend, was forced to stop after suffering vomiting seizures that sent him into hypothermia.

“After I started to vomit, I refused to take any food or water,” Fryling said, noting that the water temperature ranged between 57 and 62 degrees. “I eventually went into hypothermia.”

In addition, Fryling--who made world and national headlines in 1959 after battling sharks for almost two hours off the shores of Malibu--was being dogged by a 14-foot tiger shark.

“The light from the boat illuminated the entire area around me. While I was swimming, I spotted some eyes and a dorsal fin below me,” Fryling said. “I don’t know why they (sharks) like me so much.”

After he was pulled out of the water about four hours into the swim, Fryling was taken back to Catalina Island and later to Torrance Hospital. He was released Sunday afternoon.

Fryling said he will not attempt the swim again.

“I’m really feeling low about this, but I have to move on,” he said. “Next week I’ll be back in the pool training for short course (competition).”